An Escape From The 401 Rush

If you are not pressed for time and enjoy small, historic communities with interesting architecture, Highway 2 is a much more pleasant alternative to the crowded construction plagued 401. She is right!! I personally can tell you that. READ ON.

I have been travelling the between Montreal and Toronto, for over 50 years using the old hiway #2, when it took 12 to 14 hours to get there travelling along the Soulange Canal on the Quebec Side. There was always or nearly always, fog. The highway is a 2 lane in most areas, very hilly and lots of curves. No sooner do you get up to 50 MPH, you hit a small town. In fact you might say that I travelled the 401, before it came into existance. I saw it being built.

As you will see by the Brockville map and although you do not see a marking of the old highway 2, it runs parralel to the river.

The St.Lawrence Seaway passes through both Cornwall (see History on the can-links page) and Brockville. Brockville is a vintage city on route, with old architecture, Boutiques and part of the Thousand Islands.Map    City Map  King St. is the main st.

Kingston one of Ontario's most attractive and historic cities, is on the route. Its old stone buildings have been converted into restaurants, craftshops and boutiques. Downtown Brock St.

The view from the ramparts of Fort Henry (one of a half dozen or so in the city) over the St.Lawrence River is spectactular. Boats depart from Kingston's lively waterfront for sightseeing tours of the Thousand Islands.

Reach the picturesque Island of Prince Edward County by bridge, ferry, or boat. The Glenora Ferry (above) is a scenic 10-minute trip across the Bay of Quinte. Discover one of Ontario's natural wonders at Lake on the Mountain Park. Photo by Peggy deWitt

Prince Edward County (Quinte Isle as some locals call t) is the peninsula that juts out into Lake Ontario Just west of Kingston. A rural enclave of well-tended farms and historic villages. It also has sandy beaches with windswept dunes in Sandbanks Provincial Park.

We are now approximatly half way up the old Hiway 2 & Kingston. Thre is still another half to go until we get to Toronto. If you enjoyed your trip so far, then be sure to come back for the rest. There is still, Ganaoque, Coburg, Belleville, Port Hope, I may have missed one or two, but all heritage stuff on route.

7/13/01 3:43:35 PM